Horseshoe assembly having glide clips and metal studs

ABSTRACT

The horseshoe assembly of the present invention comprises a U-shaped pad member having one or more glide clips attached thereto around its outer circumference. Each of the glide clips has a glide surface protruding a short distance below the bottom surface of the pad member. The coefficient of friction of the glide members is less than that of the pad member. At least one elongated stud is fitted within a stud receiving hole in the bottom surface of the pad member and includes a lower stud end protruding below the bottom surface of the pad member.

This is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No.07/664,813, filed Mar. 5, 1991, and now U.S. Pat. No. 5,168,934.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a horseshoe assembly having glideclips.

Horses are often presently exposed to hard paving surfaces, such asconcrete, blacktop, or other paving surfaces. Examples of horses whichare used on these types of surfaces include mounted police horses,horses for pulling carts, and horses which are used in parades or othersituations where hard surfaces or paving is present.

Hard paving surfaces create several problems for horses usingconventional metal shoes. The hard surfaces create damage to the lowerjoint of the horse's leg, and often the useful life of the horse isdiminished as a result of extended exposure to hard paving surfaces.Another problem encountered with conventional horseshoes on hardsurfaces is that the shoes slip, thereby creating a hazard both for thehorse and the person riding the horse.

Attempts have been made to provide rubber shoes for horses which areexposed to hard-paved surfaces. However, several problems areencountered with these rubber shoes. Because of the high friction on therubber shoe, the horse's gait is altered. The normal gait for a horseinvolves a gliding motion of the horse's foot as it engages the ground.On natural soils, this gliding motion takes place, and the horse's gaitis natural. However, when rubber shoes are used, the high friction ofthe rubber shoe prevents the horse's hoof from gliding forward as itinitially engages the paving. This shortens the horse's gait from whatit normally would be.

Another problem encountered with rubber shoes is that they are verydifficult to keep on the horse. Conventional nails or screws do notprovide a very secure attachment of the rubber shoe to the horse's hoof,and therefore, it is necessary to reattach the shoe much more often thanis normally the case with metal shoes. Another problem encountered withrubber shoes is that they wear out quickly. There is also a need forenhancing the ability of a rubber horse shoe to mountain adequatetraction on icy surfaces.

Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is the provision ofan improved horseshoe assembly having glide clips thereon.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of animproved horseshoe assembly having a rubber pad provided with metalstuds for gripping icy or slippery surfaces.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of ahorseshoe assembly having a metal plate attached to the horse's hoof,and having a rubber pad attached securely to the metal plate.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of animproved horseshoe assembly which utilizes a rubber pad, but which alsoutilizes glide clips having a lower coefficient of friction than therubber pad.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of animproved horseshoe assembly using a rubber pad, but permitting thehorse's hoof to glide a short distance over the supporting surface as itengages the supporting surface.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of animproved horseshoe assembly utilizing a rubber pad which does notshorten the horse's gait as is often the case with present rubber padsbeing used.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of animproved horseshoe assembly which permits a slight gliding action of therubber shoe when it engages the supporting surface, but which ultimatelyfrictionally engages the supporting surface when the horse's full weightis placed thereon.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of animproved horseshoe assembly utilizing a rubber pad, and utilizingplastic clips which extend the life of the pad.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of animproved horseshoe assembly which is economical to manufacture, durablein use, and efficient in operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention utilizes a metal plate which is attached to thebottom of a horse's hoof in a conventional fashion. The metal plateincludes screw holes for permitting the attachment of a rubber shoe tothe bottom surface thereof. The rubber shoe has a plurality of plasticclips around its periphery which protrude slightly downwardly below thebottom surface of the rubber shoe. The plastic clips have a lowercoefficient of friction than the coefficient of friction of the rubber.When the horse's foot engages the supporting surface, the clips comeinto contact with the surface and permit a slight amount of glidingaction as the horse's hoof begins to engage the surface. However, oncethe horse places its full weight on the hoof, the gliding clips arecompressed so that the surface of the rubber engages the supportingsurface or pavement on which the horse is resting. This causes thefriction of the rubber to give the horse traction, thereby preventingslipping as is often the case with metal shoes.

The clips which are used on the horse's hoof are made of a durableplastic which has a lower coefficient of friction than rubber and whichis less susceptible to wear from friction. This later feature causes theclips to extend the life of the shoe since the clips bear the initialfriction between the shoe and the supporting surface.

The present invention also utilizes metal studs mounted within therubber shoe for engaging icy or slippery surfaces to give additionaltraction between the rubber shoe and those surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the horseshoe assembly of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the assembly, showing one of the clipsremoved from the rubber pad.

FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are illustrations of the movement of the horse's hoofas it engages the ground with the horseshoe assembly of the presentinvention mounted on the horse's hoof.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the horseshoe assembly of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the clip which is attached tothe rubber pad in horseshoe assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8--8 of FIG. 2, but showingthe shoe mounted on the bottom of a horse's hoof.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9--9 of FIG. 2, but showingthe shoe mounted on the bottom of a horse's hoof.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10--10 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally refers to thehorseshoe assembly of the present invention. Assembly 10 is adapted formounting on a horse's hoof 11 (FIG. 6) and includes a metal shoe plate12 and a rubber shoe or pad 14. While pad 14 is preferably made out ofrubber, it can also be made out of other elastomeric materials having areasonably good coefficient of friction and also being capable ofcompressing slightly to cushion the shock between the horse's hoof and ahard supporting surface. Preferably, the compressibility of the rubbershould produce a durometer reading of between 50 and 90.

Metal shoe plate 12 is conventionally shaped to fit the bottom of thehorse's hoof 11. Plate 12 includes a forward web 16 and two trailinglegs 18, 20, each of which terminate in a rearward end 22. Around theperiphery of the metal plate 12 are a plurality of rectangular nailholes 24 for receiving conventional horseshoe nails 28 for securing theplate 12 to the bottom of the horse's hoof 11. Also located in spacedrelation to one another around the inner circumference of the shoe are aplurality of threaded bolt holes 26 which are adapted to receive boltsfor securing the pad 14 to the bottom of plate 12.

As can be seen in FIG. 9, the plate 12 is secured to the bottom of thehorse's hoof 11 by means of nails 28, which are driven upwardly into thehorse's hoof and which exit on the upper front surface of the horse'shoof. The ends 30 of the nails 28 are then bent over in conventionalfashion. The front edge of the plate 12 includes a conventional toe tab32 which abuts against the front surface of the horse's hoof 11.

Rubber pad 14 comprises a forward web 34 which interconnects tworearwardly-extending legs 36, 38, each of which terminate in a rearwardend 39. A plurality of peripheral slots 40 are provided around the outerperimeter of the pad 14 and extend radially therein. Each peripheralslot includes a keyhole circle 42 (FIG. 2) having keyhole sidewalls 44extending radially outwardly therefrom. A keyhole floor web 46 extendsradially outwardly from the inner radial end of keyhole circle 42 to anouter edge 47 which is spaced radially inwardly from the outercircumferential edge of pad 14 so as to create a radially inwardlyextending notch 49. A securing hole 48 is approximately centrallylocated within keyhole circle 42 and extends perpendicularlytherethrough.

Each of the legs 36, 38 of pad 14 also includes a pair of side securingholes 50 which are not provided within keyhole slots, but which areotherwise similar to the holes 48 within the keyhole circles 42.

The number of peripheral slots 40 which may be provided in pad 14 can bevaried without detracting from the invention. However, it is preferablethat three such slots 40 be provided adjacent the forward leading edgeof the pad 14, and that two such slots 40 be provided adjacent thetrailing edges 39 of the pad 14.

Attached within each of the slots is a gliding clip, 52. Clip 52 ispreferably made of a hardened plastic such as NYLON (a registeredtrademark of DuPont), or other hardened plastic material. The clipsshould have a coefficient of friction which is substantially less thanthe coefficient of friction of the pad 14.

Each clip 52 includes an upper flange 54, a lower flange 56, a forwardrounded nose 58, and a downwardly-presented gliding surface 60. A pairof registered securing holes or attachment holes 62 is provided in theends of flanges 54, 56. Also, the flanges 54, 56 terminate in roundedportions which are adapted to register and fit within the keyholecircles 42 of slots 40. The space between flanges 54, 56 will bereferred to generally as a web slot 64, and it is shaped to conform andmate with the floor web 46 of slots 40 as illustrated in FIG. 8. In thisposition, the web 46 is embraced between the upper flange 54 and thelower flange 56 of clip 52 with the securing holes 62 of clip 52 inregistered alignment with the securing hole 48 within slot 40.

A button head shoulder bolt 66 includes a shank 70 and a bolt head 68.Shank 70 is inserted through a registered securing holes 62 of clip 52and also through the securing hole 48 of floor web 46, all as shown inFIG. 8. The axial length of shank 70 is such that it spans the distancebetween upper flange 54 and lower flange 56 of clip 52. The securingholes 62 of flanges 54, 56 are slightly larger in diameter than theshank 70 so that they are free to flex toward and away from one anotherwhile sliding upwardly and downwardly on the shank 70 of bolt 66. Bolt66 includes an upper threaded end 72 which is threaded within one of thethreaded bolt holes 26 of metal shoe plate 12 as shown in FIG. 8. Thisconstruction permits the weight of the horse to cause the pad 12 tocompress, and also permits the upper and lower flanges 54, 56 of clip 52to compress toward one another while sliding upon the outercircumferential surface of shank 70 of bolt 66. The axial length ofshank 70 permits the bolt 72 to be threaded tightly within the threadedhole 26 so as to secure the pad 12 and the clip 52 to the plate 12.

There are several features of the clip 52 which are important to theinvention. As can be seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, the gliding surface 60 ofclip 52 protrudes a slight distance below the bottom surface of pad 14.While this distance may vary without detracting from the invention, itis preferred that the surface 60 protrude approximately 1/64 of an inchbelow the bottom of pad 14. It should also be noted that the nose 58protrudes a short distance beyond the leading edge of pad 14. While thisdistance may vary, it is preferred that it protrude approximately 1/32of an inch from the front of pad 14.

FIGS. 3-5 illustrate the manner in which the clips 52 operate whenplaced on a horse's hoof. FIG. 3 illustrates the horse's hoof as it isapproaching the supporting surface or pavement. The leading edge of thehoof is downwardly presented, and the hoof is moving downwardly andforwardly in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 illustrates the initial contact between the horse's hoof and thesupporting surface. When the supporting surface is soil or naturalterrain, the natural movement of the horse's hoof is to continue slidingforwardly a short distance after engagement with the surface. However,with rubber pads, the high coefficient of friction of the rubber causesthe horse's hoof to stop more quickly than would normally be the case.The present invention, however, permits the horse's hoof to continuegliding forward due to the fact that the clips 52, and particularly theprotruding nose 58 and the protruding gliding surface 60 engage thepavement initially and permit the horse's hoof to continue slidingforwardly

FIGS. 5 illustrates the position of the horse's hoof after the fullweight of the horse has been placed on the hoof. At this point, theweight of the horse causes the rubber floor web between flanges 54, 56to compress and the flanges 54, 56 of the clip to compress toward oneanother to a point where the gliding surface 60 no longer protrudesbelow the bottom surface of the pad 14. This permits the surface of therubber pad to engage the pavement and provide satisfactory traction forthe horse. The clips 40 permit the horse's gait to be normal while atthe same time permitting the rubber to provide traction with thepavement after the horse's weight has been placed on its hoof.

The durable characteristics of the plastic from which clips 52 areconstructed also add to wear life of the rubber pad 14. The horseshoeassemblies are light, and provide improved traction to the horse whileat the same time permitting the horse to retain its normal gait. The useof this present horseshoe assembly can significantly increase the usefullife of a draft horse or other horses on hard surfaces.

Pad 14 also includes a plurality of stud receiving holes 100 whichextend upwardly in pad 14 from the bottom surface thereof. Referring toFIG. 10, a plurality of studs 102 may each be inserted into one of theholes 100. Each stud 102 includes a head 104, a shank 106 and a nippleend 108. The depth of hole 100 relative to the length of stud 102 issuch that the nipple end 108 protrudes outwardly beyond the bottomsurface of pad 14 so as to frictionally engage icy or slippery surfacesand enhance traction between the horse's hoof and the icy or slipperysurface. The studs 102 are inserted into the holes 100 by forcing theminto holes 100 in a manner similar to that used for inserting studs intostudded tires.

The means for securing the pad to the bottom of the horse's hoof issignificantly better than conventional methods. The ferrule bolts 66 aresecurely threaded into the metal plates 12, and therefore are tightlysecured in place. The metal plates 12 are secured by nails inconventional fashion. This provides a much longer lasting securement ofthe shoe assembly to the horse's hoof than in situations presently usedwhereby nails are driven directly through the rubber pad and into thehorse's hoof. With prior methods, the compressibility of the rubber padcauses the nails to work loose quickly, and it is difficult to keep thepads on the horse's hoof. The present invention minimizes this problem.

Thus, it can be seen that the device accomplishes at least all of itsstated objectives.

We claim:
 1. A horseshoe assembly comprising:a U-shaped pad memberhaving an upper surface, a lower surface, an exterior edge, an interioredge, a forward closed end, and a rear open end formed from first andsecond spaced apart legs of said U-shaped pad member, each of said firstand second legs having a rear end; said pad member being formed from anelastomeric material having a first co-efficient of friction; at leastone stud receiving hole extending upwardly into said pad member fromsaid lower surface thereof; stud means within said at least one studreceiving hole and having upper and lower stud ends, said lower end ofsaid stud means protruding downwardly below said lower surface of saidpad member; at least a first clip member attached to said pad member,said clip member having a ground engaging surface adjacent said lowersurface of said pad member and being formed of a material having asecond coefficient of friction which is less than said first coefficientof friction; means for attaching said pad member and said clip member tothe bottom of a horse's hoof.
 2. A horseshoe assembly according to claim1 wherein said ground engaging surface protrudes downwardly below saidlower surface of said pad member.
 3. A horseshoe assembly according toclaim 2 wherein said means for attaching said pad member and said firstclip member to said horse's hoof comprise a second U-shaped member,first securing means attaching said second U-shaped member to saidhorse's hoof, and second securing means attaching said pad member tosaid second U-shaped member.
 4. A horseshoe assembly according to claim3 wherein said second securing means also attaches said first clipmember to said pad member.
 5. A horseshoe assembly according to claim 2wherein said first clip member is attached to said pad member adjacentsaid forward closed end of said pad member.
 6. A horseshoe assemblyaccording to claim 5 wherein said clip member is compressible inresponse to said horse placing its weight on said hoof whereby said clipmember will compress until said ground engaging surface thereof is inapproximately the same plane as said bottom surface of said pad member.7. A horseshoe assembly according to claim 2 wherein said first clipmember is C-shaped and comprises an upper leg, a lower leg and a webextending therebetween, said upper and lower legs embracing said upperand lower surfaces respectively of said pad member, said web of saidclip member extending from said upper leg downwardly and forwardlyaround said exterior edge of said pad member to said lower leg of saidclip member.
 8. A horseshoe assembly according to claim 2 comprising aplurality of clip members identical to said first clip member, saidplurality of clip members and said first clip member being positioned inspaced relation to one another around said exterior edge of said padmember.
 9. A horseshoe assembly according to claim 8 wherein a secondclip member and a third clip member of said plurality of said clipmembers are positioned adjacent said rear ends of said first and secondlegs respectively of said pad member, said first clip member beingpositioned adjacent said forward closed end of said pad member.
 10. Ahorseshoe assembly according to claim 2 wherein said pad member iscomprised of rubber and said first clip member is comprised of plastic.11. A horseshoe assembly according to claim 10 wherein said rubber ofsaid pad member has a durometer reading of from 50 to
 90. 12. Ahorseshoe assembly according to claim 2 wherein said ground engagingsurface of said first clip member protrudes downwardly below said lowersurface of said pad member a distance of approximately 1/64 of an inch.13. A horseshoe assembly according to claim 12 wherein a forward portionof said first clip member protrudes forwardly beyond said forward closedend of said U-shaped pad member.
 14. A horseshoe assembly according toclaim 13 wherein said forward portion of said first clip protrudes adistance of approximately 1/32 of an inch beyond said forward closed endof said U-shaped pad member.
 15. A horseshoe assembly according to claim1 wherein said stud means comprises an elongated metal member and saidlower stud end includes a nipple thereon for frictionally engaging asupporting surface.
 16. A horseshoe assembly according to claim 15wherein said stud means comprises an enlarged stud head at said upperstud end for frictionally retaining said stud means within said at leastone stud receiving hole.